Which Way: Lessons in studying

The leap from school to higher education is daunting but manageable, says Diana Hinds

Initially, this can feel a bit overwhelming. Tutors are feeding you with information, handing out hefty booklists, setting multiple and conflicting deadlines.

"Students in their first term often worry that there's not enough time to get everything done," says Dr Angela Taylor, study adviser at Reading University. "Organising yourself is one of the most important things at the start of a course, along with getting the right balance between work and relaxation."

Good time management is vital. Some institutions give all new students a diary, so that they can enter deadlines, look ahead and plan what work they need to do when.

Angela Taylor at Reading University recommends that students build their own weekly routine around the times of day when they know they work best. A student might study most effectively in mornings and evenings, and could then keep daily chores and seeing friends for the afternoon.

She also urges students to learn to avoid "time sponges" such as dealing with e-mail when you're meant to be writing an essay, for example.

Many institutions offer extra help with planning and structuring essays, and these skills improve with practice. But leaving an essay until the last minute, when all the books are out of the library, is seldom a recipe for success. Plan your research in advance, and leave at least a day or two to draft and redraft the essay.

Many students and employers are pleased with a 2:1. But if you want to stand out from the crowd by gaining a First, you will need to demonstrate that something extra.

"You need originality, as well as hard work and breadth of knowledge," says Kevin Passmore at Cardiff University. "You'll probably read much more than the average student, but you don't need to kill yourself. It's about working effectively, and working from the beginning."

"People who get Firsts are people who construct good arguments," says Angela Taylor at Reading University. "It's about understanding the concept, and arguing from your own point of view, with evidence to back it up."

Institutions are well equipped to help students with special needs, and can carry out assessments if you think you might be dyslexic, for example.

Students with disabilities may receive extra tutor support, they may work in pairs with other students, or "mentors", or have note-takers to help them in lectures. Software may be available to help dyslexic students, for example. Special arrangements are made in exams for all these students.

How to study

What the tutor says:

Peter Leather, admissions tutor, Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Birmingham.

"The message to new students is, don't be afraid to use all the facilities available to get the best possible outcome. This includes going to see your personal tutor about any problems, or making use of the Personal Development Portfolio (a recent government initiative) to do your own skills audit.

"We recommend that for every two hours spent in classes, a student puts in up to eight hours of private study. Go and ask for help if you need it. Department websites give information about essay-writing, and some departments run classes for developing writing skills.

"In essays, don't ramble on. Back up your arguments with hard evidence, and avoid the tendency towards 'soap-boxing'. What we want are people with bright ideas and new slants on things, who can support their ideas with hard fact."

What the student says:

Angela Watkins, 25, third-year student at Cardiff University, has just done her finals in journalism, film and broadcasting. She is hoping for a first or a high 2:1.

"I had been out of full-time education for four years when I started at Cardiff, so getting back to essay-writing was quite daunting.

"An essay is not something you can blitz in a week. I would set myself two weeks to work on a 3,000-word essay. It's important to make your argument individual, instead of regurgitating what's already been said. Make your research varied - not just library books, but use online journals and published papers.

"Time management was hard for me, because I was doing two jobs as well as studying. So I had to be disciplined.

"Working in the library felt strange at first: it can be difficult to concentrate. I found it helped to work in a cordoned-off booth in the private study room, with no one in your line of sight.

"It can be hard to enjoy yourself when you've got deadline pressure, but It's only for a month or so at the end of each term when you really have to get your head down."